Pipeline Preview: Hudson making Triple-A debut

July 30th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Billy McKinney (Yankees' No. 28), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Charlotte (5:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
McKinney hit a two-run homer and scored three runs to finish 3-for-4 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. It was the 22-year-old outfielder's second straight game with a home run and came one day after he established career highs with six RBIs and 12 total bases as part of a 4-for-5, four-extra-base-hit performance. He's slashing .351/.396/.670 with 15 extra-base hits and 19 RBIs in 24 games since moving up to Triple-A.

Pitcher to watch: Dakota Hudson (Cardinals' No. 9), Memphis at Reno (4:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Hudson will be making his Triple-A debut when he takes the mound Sunday for Memphis. The 22-year-old righty, whom St. Louis drafted 34th overall in 2016, is moving up the Minors' highest level after posting a 9-4 record and a 2.53 ERA in 18 starts for Double-A Springfield. He struck out just 77 batters over 114 innings in the Texas League, all while generating more than twice as many ground-ball outs as air outs.

Duel of the day: (Padres' No. 13) vs. Pedro Payano (Rangers' No. 28), San Antonio vs. Frisco (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
De Los Santos, 21, was electric in his last start for Double-A San Antonio as he gave up just three hits while striking out eight in seven scoreless innings. The right-hander has thrown the ball particularly well since the middle of June, as he enters Sunday's start with a 6-1 record and a 2.51 ERA over his past eight starts. He's lowered his season ERA from 5.26 to 4.09 during that stretch, all while limiting hitters to a paltry .229/.299/.337 slash line.

Payano will attempt to finish his month on a positive note after posting a 7.59 ERA in 21 1/3 innings across his five July starts. The 22-year-old righty has struggled to build on his 2016 performance in the South Atlantic League this season and especially since moving up to the Texas League, where he's pitched to a 4.73 ERA in 51 1/3 innings totaling 11 starts.

Sunday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 38 Mike Soroka (Braves' No. 5), Mississippi at Mobile (6:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 52 Sixto Sanchez (Phillies' No. 2) vs. Kyle Cody (Rangers' No. 17), Lakewood vs. Hickory (1:05 p.m. ET)
No. 60 (White Sox No. 7), Charlotte vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (5:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 64 Riley Pint (Rockies' No. 2) vs. Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 9), Asheville vs. Rome (2:05 p.m. ET)
No. 81 (Brewers' No. 3), Biloxi vs. Jacksonville (6:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Indians' No. 17), Columbus at Norfolk (Triple-A)
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 3), Jackson vs. Tennessee (Double-A)
(A's No. 8), Midland at Corpus Christi (Double-A)
(Mets' No. 8), Binghamton vs. New Hampshire (Double-A)
Aaron Civale (Indians' No. 11), Lynchburg vs. Winston-Salem Game 2 (Double-A)
Genesis Cabrera (Rays' No. 15), Montgomery vs. Chattanooga (Double-A)
Austin Gomber (Cardinals' No. 17), Springfield at NW Arkansas (Double-A)
Jordan Stephens (White Sox No. 21), Birmingham vs. Pensacola (Double-A)
John Means (Orioles' No. 30), Bowie vs Akron (Double-A)
Thomas Hatch (Cubs' No. 8), Myrtle Beach at Potomac (Class A Advanced)
Cody Poteet (Marlins' No. 12) vs. Matt Hall (Tigers' No. 24), Jupiter vs. Lakeland Ranger Suarez (Phillies' No. 16), Clearwater vs. Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
Kodi Medeiros (Brewers' No. 23), Carolina vs. Wilmington (Class A Advanced)
Alex Wells (Orioles' No. 16), Delmarva vs. Greensboro (Class A)
Brady Aiken (Indians' No. 25), Lake County at West Michigan (Class A)
(White Sox No. 30), Kannapolis at Lexington (Class A)
Nick Raquet (Nationals' No. 16), Auburn at State College (Class A Short Season)
Sam Perez (Marlins' No. 18), Batavia at Mahoning Valley (Class A Short Season)
Oliver Jaskie (Marlins' No. 21), Everett vs. Spokane (Class A Short Season)
Brusdar Graterol (Twins' No. 12), Elizabethton vs. Kingsport (Rookie)